← 2.41 Rāma leaves the sleeping citizens · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.43 Rāma crosses Kosala’s rivers →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 42: The citizens return to Ayodhyā without Rāma

Summary. Families reproach the men for returning without Rāma and imagine abandoning Kaikeyī’s Kingdom to join him

Sequence

  1. The returning citizens reach their families in despair; shops and household cooking remain neglected (2.42.1–4)
  2. women reproach the men for coming back without Rāma and praise Lakṣmaṇa for staying with him (2.42.5–7)
  3. they imagine the rivers, forests, and mountains welcoming the travelers (2.42.8–12)
  4. some urge another attempt to follow, proposing that the men serve Rāma and the women attend Sītā (2.42.13–16)
  5. they fear life under Kaikeyī and doubt Daśaratha will survive the separation (2.42.17–24)
  6. throughout the city, people mourn Rāma as someone dearer than their own children. (2.42.25–26)

Verses 2.42.1–26

2.42.1

anugamya nivṛttānāṃ rāmaṃ nagaravāsinām
udgatānīva sattvāni babhūvur amanasvinām

Of the city-dwellers who had followed Rāma and turned back, disheartened, the very life-spirits seemed to have gone out.

Words: anugamya — having followed; nivṛttānāṃ — of those who had turned back; rāmaṃ — Rāma; nagaravāsinām — of the city-dwellers; udgatānīva — as if gone out; sattvāni — life-spirits, vital breaths; babhūvur — became; amanasvinām — of the disheartened

2.42.2

svaṃ svaṃ nilayam āgamya putradāraiḥ samāvṛtāḥ
aśrūṇi mumucuḥ sarve bāṣpeṇa pihitānanāḥ

Coming each to his own home, surrounded by children and wives, they all shed tears, their faces veiled with weeping.

Words: svaṃ — own; svaṃ — each his; nilayam — dwelling; āgamya — having come to; putradāraiḥ — with children and wives; samāvṛtāḥ — surrounded; aśrūṇi — tears; mumucuḥ — shed; sarve — all; bāṣpeṇa — with tears, weeping; pihitānanāḥ — their faces covered

2.42.3

na cāhṛṣyan na cāmodan vaṇijo na prasārayan
na cāśobhanta paṇyāni nāpacan gṛhamedhinaḥ

They neither rejoiced nor took delight; the merchants did not display their wares; the goods gave no luster; the householders did not cook.

Words: na — not; cāhṛṣyan — and did they thrill with joy; na — not; cāmodan — and were glad; vaṇijo — the merchants; na — not; prasārayan — did display, spread out (wares); na — not; cāśobhanta — and did shine; paṇyāni — the wares, goods; nāpacan — did not cook; gṛhamedhinaḥ — the householders

2.42.4

naṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭvā nābhyanandan vipulaṃ vā dhanāgamam
putraṃ prathamajaṃ labdhvā jananī nābhyanandata

Seeing wealth lost they did not grieve, nor did they rejoice at an abundant gain of wealth; a mother who had borne her firstborn son did not rejoice.

Words: naṣṭaṃ — what was lost; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; nābhyanandan — did not rejoice, welcome; vipulaṃ — abundant; vā — or; dhanāgamam — gain of wealth; putraṃ — son; prathamajaṃ — firstborn; labdhvā — having obtained; jananī — the mother; nābhyanandata — did not rejoice

2.42.5

gṛhe gṛhe rudantyaś ca bhartāraṃ gṛham āgatam
vyagarhayanto duḥkhārtā vāgbhis totrair iva dvipān

In house after house the women wept and, stricken with grief, reproached their husbands returned home with words, as men goad elephants with prods.

Words: gṛhe — in house; gṛhe — after house; rudantyaś — weeping (women); ca — and; bhartāraṃ — husband; gṛham — home; āgatam — come; vyagarhayanto — reproaching; duḥkhārtā — grief-stricken; vāgbhis — with words; totrair — with goads; iva — as, like; dvipān — elephants

2.42.6

kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṃ kiṃ dāraiḥ kiṃ dhanena vā
putrair vā kiṃ sukhair vāpi ye na paśyanti rāghavam

What use to them are homes, what use wives, or wealth, or sons, or even pleasures—to those who do not see Rāghava?

Words: kiṃ — what; nu — indeed; teṣāṃ — to them; gṛhaiḥ — with homes; kāryaṃ — use, business; kiṃ — what; dāraiḥ — with wives; kiṃ — what; dhanena — with wealth; vā — or; putrair — with sons; vā — or; kiṃ — what; sukhair — with pleasures; vāpi — or even; ye — who; na — not; paśyanti — see; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.42.7

ekaḥ satpuruṣo loke lakṣmaṇaḥ saha sītayā
yo 'nugacchati kākutsthaṃ rāmaṃ paricaran vane

The one true man in the world is Lakṣmaṇa, together with Sītā, who follows Rāma Kākutstha, serving him in the forest.

Words: ekaḥ — the one, alone; satpuruṣo — true man, good man; loke — in the world; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; saha — together with; sītayā — Sītā; yo — who; 'nugacchati — follows; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha; rāmaṃ — Rāma; paricaran — serving, attending; vane — in the forest

2.42.8

āpagāḥ kṛtapuṇyās tāḥ padminyaś ca sarāṃsi ca
yeṣu snāsyati kākutstho vigāhya salilaṃ śuci

Blessed are those rivers, lotus-ponds, and lakes in which Kākutstha will bathe, plunging into their pure water.

Words: āpagāḥ — the rivers; kṛtapuṇyās — blessed, having earned merit; tāḥ — those; padminyaś — lotus-ponds; ca — and; sarāṃsi — lakes; ca — and; yeṣu — in which; snāsyati — will bathe; kākutstho — Kākutstha; vigāhya — having plunged into; salilaṃ — water; śuci — pure

2.42.9

śobhayiṣyanti kākutstham aṭavyo ramyakānanāḥ
āpagāś ca mahānūpāḥ sānumantaś ca parvatāḥ

The forests with their lovely groves will grace Kākutstha, and the rivers with their broad marshy banks, and the mountains with their peaks.

Words: śobhayiṣyanti — will grace, adorn; kākutstham — Kākutstha; aṭavyo — the forests; ramyakānanāḥ — with lovely groves; āpagāś — rivers; ca — and; mahānūpāḥ — with great marshy banks; sānumantaś — with peaks; ca — and; parvatāḥ — the mountains

2.42.10

kānanaṃ vāpi śailaṃ vā yaṃ rāmo 'bhigamiṣyati
priyātithim iva prāptaṃ nainaṃ śakṣyanty anarcitum

Whatever grove or mountain Rāma shall approach will be unable to leave him unhonored, as though a dear guest had arrived.

Words: kānanaṃ — grove; vāpi — or; śailaṃ — mountain; vā — or; yaṃ — which; rāmo — Rāma; 'bhigamiṣyati — will approach; priyātithim — a dear guest; iva — like, as though; prāptaṃ — arrived; nainaṃ — not him; śakṣyanty — will be able; anarcitum — to leave unhonored

2.42.11

vicitrakusumāpīḍā bahumañjaridhāriṇaḥ
akāle cāpi mukhyāni puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca
darśayiṣyanty anukrośād girayo rāmam āgatam

Crowned with wondrous blossoms and laden with many clusters, the mountains, out of compassion, will show even out of season their finest flowers and fruits to Rāma who has come.

Words: vicitrakusumāpīḍā — crowned with wondrous blossoms; bahumañjaridhāriṇaḥ — bearing many blossom-clusters; akāle — out of season; cāpi — and even; mukhyāni — chief, finest; puṣpāṇi — flowers; ca — and; phalāni — fruits; ca — and; darśayiṣyanty — will show; anukrośād — out of compassion; girayo — the mountains; rāmam — Rāma; āgatam — arrived

2.42.12

vidarśayanto vividhān bhūyaś citrāṃś ca nirjharān
pādapāḥ parvatāgreṣu ramayiṣyanti rāghavam

The trees on the mountain-peaks, revealing manifold and wondrous cascades, will delight Rāghava.

Words: vidarśayanto — revealing, displaying; vividhān — manifold, various; bhūyaś — moreover; citrāṃś — wondrous; ca — and; nirjharān — cascades, waterfalls; pādapāḥ — trees; parvatāgreṣu — on the mountain-tops; ramayiṣyanti — will delight; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.42.13

yatra rāmo bhayaṃ nātra nāsti tatra parābhavaḥ
sa hi śūro mahābāhuḥ putro daśarathasya ca

Where Rāma is, there is no fear; there is no defeat there; for he is a hero, mighty-armed, and the son of Daśaratha.

Words: yatra — where; rāmo — Rāma; bhayaṃ — fear; nātra — not there; nāsti — there is not; tatra — there; parābhavaḥ — defeat; sa — he; hi — for, indeed; śūro — hero; mahābāhuḥ — mighty-armed; putro — son; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; ca — and

2.42.14

purā bhavati no dūrād anugacchāma rāghavam
pādacchāyā sukhā bhartus tādṛśasya mahātmanaḥ
sa hi nātho janasyāsya sa gatiḥ sa parāyaṇam

Before he goes far from us, let us follow Rāghava; sweet is the shade at the feet of such a great-souled master; for he is the protector of this people, he their recourse, he their final refuge.

Words: purā — before, while yet; bhavati — (he) is; no — from us; dūrād — far; anugacchāma — let us follow; rāghavam — Rāghava; pādacchāyā — the shade of the feet; sukhā — pleasant, sweet; bhartus — of the master; tādṛśasya — of such a one; mahātmanaḥ — great-souled; sa — he; hi — for, indeed; nātho — protector, lord; janasyāsya — of this people; sa — he; gatiḥ — recourse, refuge; sa — he; parāyaṇam — final refuge

2.42.15

vayaṃ paricariṣyāmaḥ sītāṃ yūyaṃ tu rāghavam
iti paurastriyo bhartṝn duḥkhārtās tat tad abruvan

'We shall wait upon Sītā, and you upon Rāghava'—thus the townswomen, stricken with grief, said this and that to their husbands.

Words: vayaṃ — we; paricariṣyāmaḥ — we shall serve, attend; sītāṃ — Sītā; yūyaṃ — you; tu — and, but; rāghavam — Rāghava; iti — thus; paurastriyo — the townswomen; bhartṝn — to their husbands; duḥkhārtās — grief-stricken; tat — this; tad — and that; abruvan — said

2.42.16

yuṣmākaṃ rāghavo 'raṇye yogakṣemaṃ vidhāsyati
sītā nārījanasyāsya yogakṣemaṃ kariṣyati

Rāghava will provide for your welfare in the wilderness, and Sītā will see to the welfare of this company of women.

Words: yuṣmākaṃ — your, for you; rāghavo — Rāghava; 'raṇye — in the forest; yogakṣemaṃ — welfare, security; vidhāsyati — will provide, arrange; sītā — Sītā; nārījanasyāsya — of this company of women; yogakṣemaṃ — welfare; kariṣyati — will do, see to

2.42.17

ko nv anenāpratītena sotkaṇṭhitajanena ca
saṃprīyetāmanojñena vāsena hṛtacetasā

Who could take joy in this cheerless dwelling, with its longing people, unlovely, that steals away the heart?

Words: ko — who; nv — indeed; anenāpratītena — with this cheerless; sotkaṇṭhitajanena — with its longing folk; ca — and; saṃprīyetāmanojñena — would take joy—unlovely; vāsena — with the dwelling, life; hṛtacetasā — that steals the heart

2.42.18

kaikeyyā yadi ced rājyaṃ syād adharmyam anāthavat
na hi no jīvitenārthaḥ kutaḥ putraiḥ kuto dhanaiḥ

If the kingdom should fall to Kaikeyī, lawless and as if masterless, then we have no use for life—whence sons, whence wealth?

Words: kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; yadi — if; ced — indeed; rājyaṃ — kingdom; syād — should be; adharmyam — unrighteous, lawless; anāthavat — as if masterless; na — not; hi — indeed; no — to us; jīvitenārthaḥ — use for life; kutaḥ — whence; putraiḥ — with sons; kuto — whence; dhanaiḥ — with wealth

2.42.19

yayā putraś ca bhartā ca tyaktāv aiśvaryakāraṇāt
kaṃ sā parihared anyaṃ kaikeyī kulapāṃsanī

She who abandoned both son and husband for the sake of sovereignty—whom else would that Kaikeyī, disgrace of her line, spare?

Words: yayā — by whom; putraś — son; ca — and; bhartā — husband; ca — and; tyaktāv — both abandoned; aiśvaryakāraṇāt — for the sake of sovereignty; kaṃ — whom; sā — she; parihared — would spare, forsake; anyaṃ — other, else; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; kulapāṃsanī — disgrace of her family

2.42.20

kaikeyyā na vayaṃ rājye bhṛtakā nivasemahi
jīvantyā jātu jīvantyaḥ putrair api śapāmahe

We would never, while she lives, dwell as hirelings in Kaikeyī's kingdom; we who wish to live swear it even by our sons.

Words: kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; na — not; vayaṃ — we; rājye — in the kingdom; bhṛtakā — as hirelings; nivasemahi — would we dwell; jīvantyā — while (she) lives; jātu — ever; jīvantyaḥ — (we) living ones; putrair — by our sons; api — even; śapāmahe — we swear

2.42.21

yā putraṃ pārthivendrasya pravāsayati nirghṛṇā
kas tāṃ prāpya sukhaṃ jīved adharmyāṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm

She who, without pity, drives the son of the lord of kings into exile—who could live at ease under her, lawless and evil in her ways?

Words: yā — who; putraṃ — son; pārthivendrasya — of the lord of kings; pravāsayati — sends into exile; nirghṛṇā — pitiless; kas — who; tāṃ — her; prāpya — having come under, obtained; sukhaṃ — happily, at ease; jīved — could live; adharmyāṃ — lawless; duṣṭacāriṇīm — evil in conduct

2.42.22

na hi pravrajite rāme jīviṣyati mahīpatiḥ
mṛte daśarathe vyaktaṃ vilopas tadanantaram

For once Rāma has gone into exile the king will not live, and when Daśaratha is dead, ruin will plainly follow thereafter.

Words: na — not; hi — for, indeed; pravrajite — when (he) has gone forth; rāme — Rāma; jīviṣyati — will live; mahīpatiḥ — the king; mṛte — dead; daśarathe — Daśaratha; vyaktaṃ — clearly, plainly; vilopas — ruin, breakdown; tadanantaram — thereafter

2.42.23

te viṣaṃ pibatāloḍya kṣīṇapuṇyāḥ sudurgatāḥ
rāghavaṃ vānugacchadhvam aśrutiṃ vāpi gacchata

So drink poison stirred and mixed, O you whose merit is spent, you wretched ones—or else follow Rāghava, or go where no report of this shall reach you.

Words: te — you there; viṣaṃ — poison; pibatāloḍya — drink, having stirred; kṣīṇapuṇyāḥ — whose merit is spent; sudurgatāḥ — very wretched; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; vānugacchadhvam — or follow; aśrutiṃ — to where nothing is heard; vāpi — or else; gacchata — go

2.42.24

mithyā pravrājito rāmaḥ sabhāryaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
bharate saṃniṣṛṣṭāḥ smaḥ saunike paśavo yathā

Wrongfully has Rāma been banished, with his wife and with Lakṣmaṇa; we have been handed over to Bharata like beasts to a butcher.

Words: mithyā — falsely, wrongfully; pravrājito — banished; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sabhāryaḥ — with his wife; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — with Lakṣmaṇa; bharate — to Bharata; saṃniṣṛṣṭāḥ — handed over, entrusted; smaḥ — we are; saunike — to a butcher; paśavo — beasts, cattle; yathā — as, like

2.42.25

tās tathā vilapantyas tu nagare nāgarastriyaḥ
cukruśur bhṛśasaṃtaptā mṛtyor iva bhayāgame

Thus lamenting in the city, the townswomen cried aloud, sorely tormented, as if at the onset of the terror of death.

Words: tās — those; tathā — thus; vilapantyas — lamenting; tu — and; nagare — in the city; nāgarastriyaḥ — the city-women; cukruśur — cried out; bhṛśasaṃtaptā — sorely tormented; mṛtyor — of death; iva — as if; bhayāgame — at the coming of terror

2.42.26

tathā striyo rāmanimittam āturā yathā sute bhrātari vā vivāsite
vilapya dīnā rurudur vicetasaḥ sutair hi tāsām adhiko hi so 'bhavat

So distressed were the women on Rāma's account—as though a son or a brother had been sent into exile—that, wretched and beside themselves, they lamented and wept aloud; for to them he was dearer even than their own sons.

Words: tathā — so; striyo — the women; rāmanimittam — on Rāma's account; āturā — distressed; yathā — as though; sute — a son; bhrātari — a brother; vā — or; vivāsite — being exiled; vilapya — having lamented; dīnā — wretched; rurudur — wept aloud; vicetasaḥ — beside themselves, senseless; sutair — than sons; hi — for; tāsām — to them; adhiko — greater, dearer; hi — indeed; so — he; 'bhavat — was

← 2.41 Rāma leaves the sleeping citizens · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.43 Rāma crosses Kosala’s rivers →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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